dd9-dd101-a036a9058a3fa0b9.pdf

This document consists of a final project report (2006) and a related academic paper (2013) regarding the South Durban Health Study. The research, funded by the eThekwini Municipality as part of the Multipoint Plan, assessed the impact of industrial pollution on the respiratory health of schoolchildren and adults in south Durban compared to a non-industrial northern control area. The study found that children in the industrial south had a significantly higher risk of persistent asthma and marked airway hyperreactivity, with evidence that ambient pollutants like SO2, NO2, and particulate matter contributed to decrements in lung function, particularly in sensitive subpopulations.

• Children attending primary schools in south Durban have a statistically significant increased risk of persistent asthma and marked bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) compared to those in the north. The odds ratio (OR) for persistent asthma was 1.82 (1.05, 3.14) and for marked BHR was 2.55 (1.03, 6.28).
• Ambient air pollutants, specifically NO2, NO, PM10, and SO2, are strongly associated with decrements in lung function among children, especially those with persistent asthma or specific genetic polymorphisms (GSTM1 null and GSTP1 (A/A)) that reduce the capacity to handle oxidative stress.
• The estimated lifetime cancer risk from inhaling all measured carcinogens at three monitored sites ranged from 18 per 100,000 at Ferndale to 25 per 100,000 at Wentworth, which is described as being well above guideline levels.
• Approximately 90% of the total estimated cancer risk is attributed to a small number of pollutants: polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), benzene, and naphthalene.
• For adults, residing in south Durban is significantly associated with an increased risk of hayfever (OR 3.95) and shows marginal associations with hypertension, wheezing with shortness of breath, and chronic bronchitis.
• Indoor air quality is negatively impacted by combustion sources, particularly paraffin stoves, which lead to excessive levels of carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Total reduced sulfur/hydrogen sulfide levels in the South Durban Industrial Basin (DSIB) clearly exceed standards and guidelines, acting as a nuisance to a large portion of the population.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). dd9-dd101-a036a9058a3fa0b9.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DD9-DD101.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. dd9-dd101-a036a9058a3fa0b9.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DD9-DD101.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=dd9-dd101-a036a9058a3fa0b9.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DD9-DD101.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsnddd9dd101a036a9058a3fa0b9pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{dd9-dd101-a036a9058a3fa0b9.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DD9-DD101.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }